Device for manipulating the bones of the feet



T. P. OVERTON. DEVICE FOR MANIPULATING THE BONES OF THE FEET.

APPLICATION FILED APR- 20, I920.

Patented Apr. 19, 1921.

NVO R. Tyler F? Overf'or) TYLER-P. ovnn'ron, or LOS enemas, cALiroRivIA.

DEVICE FOR MANIPULATIN'G THEBONESOF T l-IE FEET.

I Application filed April 20, 1920. Serial iNo. 375,354.

and useful Improvements in Devices for Manipulating the Bones of the Feet, of which the following is a specification- This invention is a device for manipulating the bones of the feet, and has for its object the provision of a device adapted to be pressed against the instep for correcting fallen arches.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character which includes means for supporting the foot during the manipulation thereof and which is provlded with means for readily and accurately adjusting the various parts of the device? Further objects of the invention will be readily understood from the following description of the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through the invention. I

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line .33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line .1-4; of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

In the form of the invention illustrated in 1 Figs. 1 to 1, the device, which is arranged to be pressed against the instep of the foot, is shown mounted upon a support which is also provided with supporting means for the heel of the foot. The support is shown as a hollow supporting frame 1, preferably, hav-' upwardly extending bracket 8 upon the top of the supporting frame 1. The shank of the heel support extends through the slot 7 into the hollow supporting frame 1 and is, preferably, adjustable along said slot and Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Verticauj herein to accommodate feet of different sizes.

For this purpose the shank is provided w th an, elongated slot 9 and the walls of bracket-8 forming the slot 7 are also'provided'with elongated's'lo'ts 10.- A bolt 11 extends through the slots 10 and the slot 9 and is adapted to be clamped to the walls of bracket 8 by a wing nut 12 threaded upon the end of the bolt. By loosening the nut 12 the shank of the heel support may be moved up and down within the bracket 8 andalso lengthwise thereof to adjusted position and may thenbe clamped in position by tightening the nut 12. The device arranged to press against the instep of thefoot is also adjustably mounted upon the" top of the supporting frame 1. 1

; This device is shown as comprising a support upon which is mounted a yieldable member 1 1 arranged to be pressed against the instep. The instep engaging surface of this member is, preferably, a convex surface 15, and the yielding cushioning qualities of the member are, preferably, obtained by forming the same of hard rubber or the like.

The adjustable mounting for the support 13 of this member may comprise a block 16 upon the top of the supporting frame, this block being provided with a concave recess 17 arranged to receive the end of the support 13 which is shown as a sphere 18, thereby providing a ball and socket connection. The spherical end of the support 13 may be held in position within the socket 17 by a plate 19 fitting over the sphere and resting against the top of block 16. The plate 19 and the block 16 may be secured in position upon the top of the supporting frame 1 by suitable bolts 20 extending through said plate and block and through the top surface 2 of the supporting frame.

The spherical end of the support 13 is arranged to be clamped in adjusted positions in the socket of block 16. For this purpose a bolt 21 may be threaded through the side of block 16, so that its inner end 22 will be pressed in against the spherical end of the support 18 for clamping the instep engaging member in adjusted positions when the bolt 21 is screwed into the block 16.

In the modification of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5, the instep engaging member is shown as a supporting member 13 having mounted thereon. The support 13 is adapted to be supported upon any suitable surface,

such as the top of a table,orit may be held in the hand, the lower surface 18' ofthe de' vice being formed as a convex surface adapted to readily fit within the palm of the hand. i a

In using the device-whether the instep engaging member is supported upon the supporting frame 1 or is held in the palm of the hand, the foot which is to be treated is placed with the instep over the head of the device and by application of pressure and massaging movement applied .to the top of the instep the bones of the foot will be manipulated by the engagement of the instep of the foot against the head of the device.

Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. I

What is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a base, a heel support adjustably arranged on said base, and a yieldable member arranged on said base and provided with a convex upper surface that is adapted to engage the mstep of a foot. y V

2. An "nstep of the character described comprising a support, a member connected by a ball and socket joint to said support and a yieldable member at the upper end of said support arranged to engage the instep of a foot. r V

3. A device of the character described comprising a foot support, and an instep engaging member having a universal joint supportingconnection on said foot support.

4:. A. device of the character described comprising a base, a heel support adjustable relative o said base, and an instep engaging member having .a universal joint supporting connection on said base.

5. A device of the character described comprising a foot support, an instep engaging member having a universal joint supporting connection on said foot support, and means for clamping said supporting connection in adjusted positions.

6. A device of the class described, comprisinga base, aheel support thereon, and a member positioned in front of said heel support and arranged for rocking movement upon the base, which member is adapted to engage the instep portion of a foot positioned upon the device. p

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' TYLER P. OVERTON. 

